Improvement in portable fences and gates



A. H. HART. Portable Pence and Gate.

No. 218,172. Patented Aug. 5, 18791.

MPEHRS4 PHOTO-LIYHOGPAPHER. wasmwsra D c UNITED STATES ALEXANDER H.HART, OF APPLETON,

PATENT OEEIGE.

WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ANSIL SIDMORE AND ADALBERTA. BABOOCK, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCES AND GATES.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,172, dated August5, 1879; application filed February 20, 1879.

To ,all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER H. HART, of Appleton, in the county ofOutagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Portable Fences and Gates; and that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The nature of my invention relates to the construction of portable boardfences, and to thepeculiar device of arranging the gate therewith. Y

My invention consists, first, in the manner of securing the fence-panelsto the buttressstays by doweled crutch-plates and bolts; and, secondly,in the peculiar devices for supporting the sliding and swinging gate, asfully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of the fencewith the gate swung open. Fig.' 2 represents an elevation of the gatewhile longitudinally traversing on the fence. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection through the center of one of the wheels of the pivotalgatesupporting shoe. Fig. 4 is a similar section through the center ofthe pivotal gate-supporting shoe. Fig. 5 is a section through the gateend wheel. Fig. 6 is an end view of the upper end of the fence-buttress,and Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the bolt and plate connectionof the same.

Like letters in the several figures of the drawings indicate like parts.

' A represents one of the fence-panels, composed of three (more or less)horizontal boards or rails, a a1 a2, secured together by vertical boardsbx, which are placed not quite to the ends of said rails c, so as tohave them sufficiently project for lap-jointing the rails of the nextadjoining panel-rails therewith.

C C are the diagonal buttress-stays, jointed at their top ends to theproper angle, and cut out for admitting the ends ofthe top and mid-` dlerails, c al, of two adjoining fence-panels. At near their base thesestays C are connected by a brace, d, notched in the center of its topedge for receiving the ends of the lower rails, a?.

E is the crutch-plate, placed against one side of the buttress-stays,and having projecting dowels to the ends of its extensions, which entersockets in said stays, and hold the same laterally in position and F isa washer, placed against the opposite side of the buttress-stays, andhaving a notched flange to one end, which embraces the lower edge of theuppermost fence-rail, a, and a bolt,f, being passed through holes in theplates E and F will secure the same rigidly in their positions, and willthereby rmly hold the fence -panels to the buttresses.

Gr is a post to one side of the gateway, holding a fixed pivot-hook, g;and H is the opposite post to the gateway, provided with a socket ormortise, h, for admitting one of the gaterail ends while the gate isclosed.

I is the gate-supporting shoe, consisting of two plate-like sections,which, when secured together by a screw, will form an oval socket in thebottom center of said shoe for receiving the pivot-hook g oi' thefence-post Gr, so as to be supported thereon. Between the plates of theends of the shoe I are journaled two wheels, k, upon which and betweenthese plates the upper rail of the gate will rest for sliding thereon.

The gate M is composed of three (more or less) horizontal rails orboards, m, rigidly connected with their ends to vertical boards n, andwith the middle rail end sufciently projecting for entering the socket hin post H when the gate is closed. The uppermost rail of this gate, asheretofore explained, rides in shoe I, and a flanged wheel, O, rotatingupon a pin, o, which, with its screw end and a nut, is Asecured to therear vertical board, n, of gate M, rides upon the upper edge of themiddle rail, c1, of the fence, and holds the gate 1ongitudinally in linewith the same; and the uppermost rail, a, of said fence-section, on theend toward the gateway, is downwardly widened, as shown by o', for thewheel O to roll against its lower edge and retain the gate in ahorizontal position while its center of gravity is carried beyond thepivot-hook g.

It will be seen that when the gate is opened it must he pushed back tillthe Wheel O has passed the downward projection o' before it can beswung; on the pivot g,:n1dthen the gute will be balanced, or nearly so,upon said pivotq so that it can be swung easily.

With the above-described arrangement a very strong and durable fence isobtained, which can he readily taken apart, so as to be loaded uponWagons for transportation, to be erected again within avery short time;and* the gateby being; supported upon the pivotal Wheel-shoe, and byhaving the lianged guidewheel to one end, will longitudinally slide onsaid fence with great ease; or, when the gate- Way is required to beunobstructed to its i'nll Width, the wheel 0 may be lifted oit' the raila', when the gate can be swung un a curve until it occupies arectangular position with the fence.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The hinein-described portable fence, con sisting of panels A andbuttress-stays C C, connected by crutch-plate E, Washer F, land boltf,substantially in the manner set forth.

2. The combination, with the fence A,having horizontal rails, of thegate M, sliding in a shoe, I, pivoted to the post G of the fence, andprovided with flanged wheel O on its rear vertical stile, sliding upon arail of the adjoining panel of the fence, and adapted to be lifted oft'of said rail to swing the gate when the gate is balanced on its pivot,constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.

ALEXANDER H. HART.

Witnesses:

A. A. BABCOCK, A. SCIDMonE..

